Mechanism for the manufacture of watch-case centers



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1;

A W. 11.. FITZ GERALD. MECHANISM FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCH CASECENTERS,

- No. 420,380. PatentedvJan. 28, 1890.

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

s R E T N B G E S A 0 H WH T R 0 h M S I N A H U E M No. 420,380.Patented Jan. 28,1890.

.3 Sheets Sheet 3.;

(No-Model.)

W. FITZ GERALD. MBGHANISM FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCH CASE CENTERS.

'Pamlsented Jan. 28, 1890.

N. PETERS Fhulo-Lilhographur. Waihmgton. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT rricn,

WALTER II. FITZ GERALD, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV YORK.

MECHANISM FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF WATCH-CASE CENTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,380, dated January28, 1890.

Application filed July 31, 1888. Renewed December 14, 1889- Serial No.833,718. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, VVALTER H. FITZ GER- ALD, of Brooklyn, in the countyof Kings, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mechanism for the Manufacture of Watch- OaseCenters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the parts of mysectional die-chuck for embossing a case-center separated from eachother. Fig. 2 is a like View of the same united. Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of the roller used with said die-chuck. Fig. at is a centralsection of said tools when in operation upon a case-center. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a blank when ready for the action of the embossingor ornamenting dies. Fig. 6 is a like view of the same after havingreceived such action;

and Figs. 7 and 8 are central cross-sections of said case-center, andshow, respectively, the condition of the same before and after theaction of said embossing-dies.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures.

My invention has for its object the ornamentation of a watch-case centermade from sheet metal; and to such end said invention consists in themechanism employed, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafterspecified.

In the carrying'of my invention into practice I employ a case-centerblank A, which is preferably constructed from sheet metal by means ofdies, and is provided upon each side with an outer cover-snap a and aninner cover or bezel snap a. If desired, said blank may be cast andturned in a lathe, or may be given its shape by any other means whichwill adapt it for embossing.

For the embossing operation I employ a hollow split chuck B, which hasone of its ends adapted to screw over or otherwise be fastened upon theend of a lathe-spindle and at its opposite end is enlarged, and suchenlargement b given a rearwardly and inwardly inclining periphery.Fitted upon the outside of said chuck is a sleeve 0, which has the rearportion of its axial opening 0 threaded to correspond to a threadedportion 1) of the periphery of said chuck, while the front portion 0' ofsaid axial opening has an outward and forward inclination that adapts itto conform to the inclined or conical periphery of said enlargement, thearrangement being such as to enable the outer split end of said chuck tobe compressed radially by turning said sleeve outward over the threadedpart b and permitting it to expand radially by moving said sleeverearward, all in the usual way.

Within the outer split end of the chuck B is provided a recess N, whichis slightly larger in diameter than the outside diameter of the centerblank A, and has a depth equal to about twice the thickness of thelatter from front to rear. Within the rear end of said recess is looselyfitted a washer D, that has its front or outer face conformed to theshape of one side of said blank, while within the outer end of saidrecess is a second washer E, that has its inner face also adapted to fitover one of the sides of said blank. The washer E is provided with a/\-shaped peripheral flange e, that engages with a correspondinglyshaped groove b within the chuck-recess 0 and operates to insure theposit-ion of said washer with relation to the rear end of said recess,the arrangement being such as to cause the blank A to be closely heldbetween the faces of said washer E and the washer D when the jaws of thechuck B are closed together.

Between the washers D and E the periphery of the chuck-recess b is givena trans verse and circumferential shape that is the reverse of the likefeatures of the finished case-center A, and is adapted to give to theperiphery of the-latter any desired ornamentation. The case center blankbeing placed within the embossing-chuck, as described, a roller F, whichhas its periphery conformed to the size and shape transversely of theinterior of the finished center blank, is placed within the latter. Saidchuck is caused to revolve and said roller moved, so as to press outwardagainst the inner peripa cry of said blank, when by the action of theformer the latter will have its periphery pressed into and caused toconform to the inner periphery of said chuck, so as to present-a reverseof the configuration of the same. IVhile the roller described ispreferthe recessed chuck-die and to press the same ably employed, thesame result upon the case-center may be secured by the use of aburnisher for pressing the metal into contact with the embossingsurface.When centers are being made for filled cases, an inclined face a at eachhinge-joint may be formed by means of correspondingly-oppositeelevations I), provided within the chuck-recess W. The case-center isnow completed by giving to its snaps the necessary under-cut, whichoperation is preferably performed by means of a burnisher in the usualway. If desired, however, such under-cut may be given by the chuck die,in which event the separable washers would be omitted and said chuckcaused to embrace the sides as well as the periphery of the blank. Torender such 'operation practicable, the jaws of said chuck would begiven a much larger radial movement than would otherwise be necessary.

\Vhen a case-center has been embossed, the sleeve 0 is screwed back,permitting the expansible and contractible chuck B to expand to releasethe washers D and E and the embossed center, which is thus renderedreadily removable from the chuck when the embossing operation iscompleted, while being securely held in place during the embossingoperation by the jaws of the chuck when the latter are contracted byscrewing up the said i sleeve, the said washers having peripheralgrooves or flanges to prevent their displace ment when the jaws of thechuck are contracted. l The method hereinbefore described is not!claimed herein, being covered by a separate: application for patentfiled upon the 5th day of April, 1888, Serial No. 269,723. 5

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is j 1. In a machine forembossing wateh-casef centers, the combination, with an expansible andcontractible chuck-die provided with a circumferentially ornamented orfigured diev recess, of a roller to enter and travel within 1 theinterior of a watch-case center held in outward against the ornamentedface of the said die-recess, substantially as and for the purposespecified. 2. In a machine for embossing watch-case l centers, thecombination, with an expansible and contractible chuck-die provided withaj circumferentially ornamented or figured dierecess, of removable ringsor washers fitting within said chuck and the inner faces of whichcoincide to the outer faces of a watchcase center, and a roller to enterand travel within the interior of a watch-case center held in the saidchuck-die between said rings or washers and to press the periphery ofthe center outward against the ornamented face of the said die-recess,substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. In a machine for embossing watch-case centers, the combination, withan expansible and contractible chuck-die provided with an ornamented orfigured die-recess and an internal annular recess or groove, of a ringor washer adapted to furnish a bearing for the outer face of acase-center, and which is provided with a peripheral flange to enter thesaid annular recess or groove within the jaws of the chuck to preventthe displacement of the said ring or washer when the jaws of the chuckare contracted, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for embossing watch-case centers, the combination, witha die composed of a chuck which issplit so as to form a number ofelastic jaws that are provided internally with an annular ornamentedrccess which is adapted for the reception of a watcl1-case center, ofmeans for causing the periphery of said center to conform to theconfiguration of the ornamented recess, substantially as and for thepurpose shown.

5. I11 a machine for embossing watch-case centers, the combination, witha die that is composed of a chuck which is split so as to form a numberof elastic jaws that are .provided internally with an annularpartiallyornamented recess which is adapted for the reception of awatch-case center, and of confining-rings adapted to engage with thecenter so as to maintain it in position to have its periphery conformedto the ornamentation in the annular recess, of a roller engaging withthe center so as to effect the said conformation of its periphery,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this14th day of i July, 1888.

II. FI'IZ GERALD.

